Sheet extractor device



April 22, 1952 Filed Nov. 7, 1946 Ill R. E. CUMMINGS SHEET EXTRACTOR DEVICE 6 Sheecs-Sheet l [N V EN TOR. fd

1M gram 4 TTOE/VEYS A ril 22, 1952 R. E. CUMMINGS ,5

SHEET EXTRACTOR DEVICE Filed Nov. 7, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

By zj April 1952 R. E. CUMMINGS 2,593,415

SHEET EXTRACTOR DEVICE A TTOE/VEYS April 22, 1952 Filed Nov. 7, 1946 R. E. CUMMINGS SHEET EXTRACTOR DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 1% ATTORNEYS April 1952 R. E. CUMMINGS v 2,593,415

SHEET EXTRACTOR DEVICE Filed Nov. '7, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

BY 3 Z 2 4 Patented Apr. 22, 1952 2,593,415 sneer nxrnaeron DEVICE Roy E.. Cummings, Arlington, Mass, assignor to American Can Company; New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 7, 1946, SerialNo. 708,353

Claims. 1

I This invention relates to oven conveyors which transfer coated and lithographed sheets or the like for drying and other treatment and has par ticular reference to devices for releasing individual sheets from each of a plurality of wickets carried on a continuously moving conveyor.

An object of the invention is the provision in an oven conveyor for transferring coated and lithographed metal sheets supported in sheet carrying wickets, of a device for engaging and releasing an individual sheetrelative to its sup? porting wicket.

Another object of the invention is the provision in an oven conveyor having sheet carrying wickets without stopping movement of the coni veyor preparatory to releasing the sheet from such a separated wicket.

A further object of the invention is the provision in suchan oven conveyor of a sheet bowing device located adjacent conveyor chains and cooperating with a feed lifting device so that sheets, particularly wide sheets, will clear the Wicket hooks easily during the separation preparatory to being discharged from the conveyor chains.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation'of one end portion of a can conveyor mechanism embodying the present invention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1 and drawn Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially along the section line 6 -6 in Fig. 4, parts being broken away and Fig. 7 is a plan sectional view taken substantially along the section line 1-1 in Fig. 4 with parts removed.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawings illustrate portions of a conveyor for a drying oven of the character shown in United States Patent 1,468,181, issued September 18, 1923, to C. Wagner et al. In such an oven sheets A are transferred to an oven conveyor B (Fig. 1) from a suitable source of supply as froma coating or printing machine. The sheets are carried in an on-edge position in wicket hooks, the wicket/and the hooks being a part of the conveyor system. v

In the oven conveyor of the accompanying drawings there are two inner conveyor chains I I (see also Fig. 2) mounted in horizontally spaced relation. These conveyor chains are carried over suitable chain sprockets l2, only the sprockets at one endof the conveyor being shown. The two endsprockets shown are mounted on a conveyor shaft l3. This shaft is journaled in bearings 14 whichmay' be secured to or formed integrally with side frames l5.

Two side frames l"5,are shown, these being located at the sheet discharge end of the machine.

.Similar side frames may be used at the opposite end of the machine these side frames forming only a portion of the supporting structure. The two side frames shown are held together adjacent the bottom by a. tie rod a (Figs. 1, Zand 7), the ends of which are anchored in clamp plates 1) bolted to the side frames. Other transverse supports include a cross bare bolted at its ends to the side frames. Each side frame also is braced by an intermediate bar d. A lower connecting tie frame e extends on each side between the side frames l5 and a second transverse cross bar f iscarried on the tie frames e (Figs 4 and 5). Other frame parts may be used for the necessary support of the working parts. It is believed a more detailed description of these structures is not necess'ary'for purposes of the present invention! V The conveyor chains ll slowly advance, carrying therewith a plurality of wickets I6 which are a part of the conveyor system. These wickets transfer the sheets A on an upper run of the conveyor'B, thence back along a lower run. The wickets are pivotally mounted on chain links, designated as holding elements I1, this being a usual construction in oven chains. The wickets l6 correspondto the plate holders of the Wagner patent mentioned'above but in the present embodiment are substantially rectangular in shape, having"additiona1 inner reenforcing ribs [8. The

3 outer edge of each wicket is formed with two spaced hooks l9 (see also Fig. 7) one hook element being located near each side of the machine.

Both the upper and the lower runs of the chain conveyors I! ride along spaced bars or rails 20 which are carried by the frames 15 at the front and rear of the oven (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). The two rails 20 on each side are tied together by connecting straps 2|. The conveyors carry flanged supporting rollers 22 which ride directly on the rails as they rotate on suitable pins carried in the chains.

the combined weight of the wickets and the sheets. The outer looped end of .each, wicket l6 when passing along the lower run of the conveyor also is supported by spaced rails 24.

The rails 24 are suitably secured to the frames l5 the rails at the front resting on the cross bar which extends between the sideframes l The rails 24 are thus indirectly carried bythe side frames both at the front and at the rear of the machine. i l

The wickets it are confined between the upper and lower rails and 24 as they advance along the lower run of the conveyor ,cha'ins II. On both th upper and lower runs the conveyor wickets l6 are disposed in slightly inclined posi tionso that the uncoated surface of each sheet faces away from its supporting wick'et The spaced rails 24 for the lower run cause a slight spacing between adjacent wickets. This assists in maintaining a more even movement of the wickets and maintains them in a better controlled position for discharge of the sheet, as will be explained hereinafter.

After treatment in the oven, the sheet A is ready for discharge. Such. ashefe't rnoving toward the left (Fig. 1 on the lower run of the conveyor passes between the .side frames {5 at the front ends of the rails 20 and'24. vAwicket separating device C (Fig. 3) is the first of a series of mechanisms to operate inc dent to .'discharging the sheet from its supporting wicket lliatthfspositidn. t

Th w t' fe ei fin' de t es. 'Q i jt see.- tions, one for each side of the sheet -(see also i 22-. The We ti s a e. e c n. ms itu ie an 99 h o qe ei i iis 0. theme he t a the same. t m Ea h :sQ a a inese r' n. eq i es; a sub an al y trian u a plat 26 gFigs S, 5 and 6 pivot-ally mounted on a pin 21 supported in ablock 28 secured to an angle iron 29 mounted on the front cross bar a, (see SQ et E hr a 2. a h t is. med wit a circularpocket .3! whichis set off by a forward prong 32 and a rearprong 33. On the opposite sideof the pivot the plate extends down asa tail section ,34. The pocket-3| is so shaped as to provideaclosely fitting seat for the lower .edge of the wicket H3 at the loop [9 on that side, .;it being in alignment with theloop. g

As the wicket reaches vtheseparating device, C the two plates 26 are in their clockwise positions as viewed in Fig. 3, the rear prong 33 beingv below the advancing wicket loop. The lower looped edge of the moving wicket therefore easily passes into the pockets of the two plates the front. of the wicket striking against each front prong 32 of the associated plate inentering. the pocket. The forward ends of the rails where they are This construction pre vents the conveyor chains. from, sagging under it has moved off of the two rails 24 falls within the pockets 3i of the plates. This passing of a wicket from the rail into the. triangular plate on each side of the machine is clearly shown in Fig. 3, the forward wicket which is entering the plate pocket having swung free of its restraining rail 24 on that side.

On receiving a wicket the two triangular plates begin rocking in a counterclockwise direction coming into the position shown in Fig. 4. Then the looped wicket edge is fully seated in the plate pocket. The chains H continue to advance the upper or inner edge of the wicket but the wicket atthe bottomis confined entirely by the plates 26 and noves with the plates.

Both plates are moved together by connections I with a common shaft. For this purpose the tail the rocking of the triangular plate 26 in its short of the plates 26. Therefore a-wicket when counterclockwise movement. When the plates 26 reach their furthermost oscillation, this being shown in Fig. 5, the wicket is released and swings forward. During this movement the front prong 32 of each plate moves into a position whereit is below the lower edge of the wicket so that swinging of the wicket in clearing the triangular plates is unimpeded.

It will be observed that during this rocking action (Fig. 5) the next following wicket I6 is prevented from swinging forward as it engages the rear prongs 33 of the wicket separating device. Thus these two prongs act as stops in locating a wicket which has just cleared the ends of the rails 24. y

The second mechanism which comes into operation incident to discharging the sheet now heldv in .the separated wicket is a sheet lifting device D. This device is located in the front of the oVen and in the'path of travel of the sheet carried'by the separated wicket just released from the separating device C. Device D is also in two sections one on each side of the machine. These two sections are identical in construction and both operate in unison on the sheet.

Each section of the sheet lifting device D comprises a lift arm 55 (Figs. 4, 5, 6 and '7) which at one end is keyed to a horizontal rock shaft 56. Shaft 56 extends across the machine and is journaled in brackets 5! bolted to the side frames l5. ,Both lift arms 55 of the two lifting devices D, being keyed to the shaft, thus operate in unison.

. The free endof the lift arm 55 is wider and provides a sheet receiving shelf 58. When a wicket 16 with its sheet A has been released from the separating device C the sheet moves directly over the shelf 58 on each side of the machine. The arms 55 at such a time are in lowered position, this being the position shown in Fig. 5.

The shelf end 58 of the lift arm carries a pair of spaced upwardly extending ears 6| which form aguideway fora release finger 62. Therelease finger is cut through to provide an elongated slot 63, this being where the finger slides between the'ears 6|. An oval e extensioh 4 is formed on either side of the finger surrounding the slot 63 and presents a smooth slide surface oneach side for working contact with the spaced ears.

A bolt 55 extends between the twoears' GI and passes through the slot 63. This-:tiesth/ears together and'at the same time prevents dislocation of the release finger thus insuringbnly sliding movement between the li'ft andre1ease fingers and this insures a flat engagementof the sheet. on In this manner, the release fingers defi nitely. locate the sheet evesm lift arm shelves58. L f Y Each release finger 52 is pivotally mountedon a pin I5 which is carried in a lateral extension I6 of a support sleeve TI." Sleeve; His looselymounted on the rock shaft 56 between the lift arm-55 and the bracket S'Ion that side. The

pinfit'i extends inwardly beyond the releasefinger, this being on the side opposite to the sleeve,

extension "I6.- Thisex'tended'end of the pin is secured in one arm I8 of a sb'ell crank lever I9. Lever 19 is loosely mounted on the rock shaft 56; alongside of the lift arm 55 Thisconstruction insures uniform and smoothmovement of,

the bell crank lever I9 and the sleeve" which are held together by the pin I5 secured in the sleeve extension I6.

The'other arm of the bell cranklever (indicated by the numeral 8|) carries a pin 82 on which is mounted a cam roller 83. This roller operates against a peripheral cam. which is mounted on a horizontal cam shaft 8 5. Shaft 85 is located below and isparallel to the'rock shaft 56. The shaft 85 extends across the machine and is journaled in bearings 86 (Fig.- 6 formed-in the side frames I5. For thepurposes of the present invention shaft :85 will be consid'ere'd the drive shaft for the sheet discharge mechanisms. This drive shaft is rotatedin any suitable manner. Y g

' A spring 8'! is secured at one end .to anjex tension of the pin 82 and atthe other endto the tie rod a (Fig. 7) of the supporting frame. This keeps the cam roller 83 against the periphery of the cam 84 so that/during each-revolution of the drive shaft the cam will rock the hen crank lever 19 and slide the releasefi'ne'er 52 relative to its associated lift finger 55.

. Rocking of the shaft 56 lifts the lift fingers 55 to raise the bottom edge of thesheet resting within the wicket I6, to a position-above the hooks I9. Thereupon the release fingers 52- slide forward, pushing the sheet off of the shelves 58 of the lift arms 55. Actuation of the rock,.shaft 56 for this lifting action and itsconnectiqn with the cam and drive shaft '85 for sliding the release fingers 63 forward will now be described.

The drive shaft 85 (Figs. 1, 3, 6 and 7) carries at one end a drive sprocket 9|. chain 92 operates over the drive sprocketSIand also passes over a sprocket 93 carried onone end of the crank shaft 38. The chain 92 also passes up and over a sprocket 94 which is keyed tonne A drive Fig. 2). Shaft 95 is a relatively short shaft and carries an eccentric IOI (Figs. 1, 2 and 3).

rotates in a bearing 96 carried in one of the side frames I5.

From the sprocket 94 the chain 92 passes down and over an idler sprocket 9'I,loose1y mounted on the rock shaft 56. A collar 98 is pinned on the end of the shaft 55 and keeps the idler sprocket in proper alignment on the shaft. In this manner both the wicket separating device 0 controlled from the crank shaft 38 and the sheet lifting device D operating from the rock shaft 56 and the drive shaft are actuated in proper timed relation.

The shaft at the top of the machine also An eccentric strap I02 operates over the eccentric IOI and joins with the upper end of a connecting rod I03. The lower end of the rod is pivotally connected at I04 to a rocker arm I05. Arm I05 is mounted on the rock shaft 56 to which it is keyed. This arm is located between the sprocket 9'! and the bearing bracket 51 on the adjacent side frame I5. By reason of this construction eccentric action between the parts IOI, I02 lowers the lift fingers 55 to receive a sheet when it is carried into position by the wicket which has been released from the wicket separating device C.

The sheet A, upon reaching the position shown in Fig. 5 where it is directly above'the shelves 58 of lift arms 55 and. against the front faces of the support feet I3, comes within a pair of vertically disposed angle irons III (Figs. '3, 5 and '7 There is one angle iron on each side of the machine, the side leg of the angle being just'outsi de of the widest sheet to be handled in the oven. At the top each angle iron III is secured to the adjacent side frame I5 by a bolt II2 (Figs. 1. 2 and 3). Bolt II2 extends through a spacing sleeve I I3 which locates the angle iron in proper position inwardly of the side frame.

Below this point of connection each angle iron I I I intermediate its length is secured to the adjacent side frame in a similar manner. For this purpose each angle iron carries a bracket II4(see also Fig. 6) which is clamped against one end of a spacing'sleeve II5 through which a stud II6 passes. At the other end the stud II6 extends through the bar (1 and is securely bolted against the bar d.

"'At the time a Wicket I6 brings the sheet into the position of Fig. 5, the loop edge of the wicket is engaged by a catch device E which momentarily holds the wicket during the subsequent removal of the sheet therefrom. This prevents the wicket from swinging back at the time the sheet is being pushed off of the lift arm 55 by the release fingers 62. Catch device E is formed in ,two sections, one for each side of the machine.

Each section comprises a slotted supporting block, I2I (Figs. 2. 3 and 7) which is mounted on'and secured to the tie rod a by bolt I22. A catch finger I23 is pivoted on a pin I24 secured in the side walls of the slotted region of the block I2I and extending across the slot. The two catch fingers I23 are engaged by the wicket as the wicket moves toward (the left (Fig. 3) in bringing the sheet into proper lifting position. A spring I25 is located in the bottom of the slot in-the block HI and presses upwardly against the catch finger tending to hold the finger in the path of the swinging wicket but allowing the wicket to snap past and then tobe held in will be explained further.

. the sheet bowing position shown in Fig. 3.

the sheet is narrow its top will not be held or having Sheet carrying wickets, hook elements .With the wicket held against return movement, the'release finger 62 on each side of the machine slides along the lift arm 55 associated therewith'and pushes the sheet off of the arm. To assist in this removal a sheet bowing device F is utilized. This is best shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6 and again there are two identical sections of the device on opposite sides of the machine. This bowing device in addition to assisting in removal of the sheet from the lift fingers is instrumental in freeing a sheet from the wicket loops. It is of particular advantage where a wide sheet is used. Its action combines with the arm action to lift the sheet into'a clear position relative to the wicket loop.

' The bowing device comprises a'cu'rved sheet engaging and bowing fingers I35 which forms one arm of a bell crank lever I36. Each lever is pivoted at I31 on the angle iron I I I on its side of the machine. A slot I38 is cut in the angle from to allow for clearance of the finger.

Aslot I39 is cut in the bell crank lever I35 and a bolt I42 carried in the upper end of ai connecting strap I43 extends through. the slot.

The slot allows -for adjustment of the bolt to change the eiiective leverage for the bowing finger I35. When the desired amount of finger movement is obtained the bolt is tightened and this holds the position of the strap 23 on the bell crank lever. The lower end of the strap connects with a clevis I44 through which passes the bolt 65 carried in the lift finger lugs 61.

This construction insures rocking of the bow ing finger 35 in synchronism with lifting of the arm 55. When the arm lifts the sheet the bowing finger moves from a position in back of the angle iron (Fig. to a position first in engagement with the sheet (Fig. 4) and thence into If if the effective leverage for the finger movement is lessened little or no bowing will take place. A wide sheet thus is bowed at the time of removal of the bottom of the sheet from the lift fingers 55. In this way not only the lower edge of the sheet is pushed Off and away from the wicket but the middle part is forcedaway from the sustaining angle irons I I I.

When the sheet is completely stripped off of the lift fingers it falls by gravity from the bottom ends of the angle irons and into a chute I45 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4). The upper part of this chute is secured to collars I46 which are carried on the tie rod a. In this manner the sheet after first being lifted above the edge of the loops I9 of the wicket I6 and while the wicket is being held by the catch finger I23, is discharged from the lift arm. In thecase of a wide sheet this is at the same time that the sheet is bowedso that its vertical height is lessened'sufiiciently to entirely clear the wicket. It thereupon falls naturally into the discharge chute I45 from whence it may be carried away'into a suitable place of deposit. It is thought that the invention and many of it's'attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts with out departing from the'spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of itsmaterial advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In an oven conveyor for transferring coated "and lithographed sheets througha treatingnper ation, the combination of a conveyor member having sheetcarrying wickets for holding the sheets in separated position during transfer, said wicketshaving hooks thereon for engaging and supporting said sheets, and means located in the path of travel of the wickets for successively engaging the hook carrying portions of said wickets for forwardly spacing the foremost wicket from the succeeding wicket without disengaging the sheet from its associated hook and prior to discharging the sheet from the thus separated and forwardly spaced wicket.

2. In an oven conveyor for transferring coated and lithograph'ed sheets through a treatingoperation, the combination of a conveyor member having sheet carrying wickets, hook elements carried by saidwickets for engaging and supporting the sheets in separated position during transfer with one sheet in each wicket, means located in'the path of travel of the wickets for successively engaging the hook element carrying portions of said wickets for forwardly spacing the foremost wicket from the adjacent succeeding wicket, and means for disengaging a sheet from a said forwardly displaced hook element to discharge the sheet from its separated wicket. j 3. In an oven conveyor for transferring coated and litho'graphed sheets through a treating operation,"the combination of a conveyor member having sheet carrying wickets, hook elements carried by said wickets for holding sheets in separated upright position during transfer. means for lifting a sheet to disengage it from its hook element, and means for engaging the elevated sheet and for displacing it from said lifting means.

I. 'In an oven conveyor for transferring coated and lithographed sheets through a treating operation, the combination of a conveyor member carried by said wickets for holding sheets in ing a sheet to disengage it from its hook element,

and means for engaging and displacingthe elevated -sheet'from said lifting means and from said separated wicket.

5. In an oven conveyor for transferring coated and lithographed sheets through a treating operation, 'the combination of a conveyor member having sheet carrying wickets for holding sheets in separated position during transfer, de vices located in the path of travel of the wickets for engaging each wicket/and for spacing it from an adjacent wicket while preventing more than one wicket separation at a time, means for removing a sheet from said separated wicket, and means actuated by said sheet removing means for engaging and'bowing said sheet to assist in -sai'dremoval. v

6. In an 'oven'conveyor for transferring coated and 'lithogr'aphed sheets through a treating operation, the combination of a conveyor member having sheet carrying wickets, devices located in the path of travel of the wickets for engaging a said wicket and for spacing it from an adjacent wicket, latch "devices for holding the separated wicket in its spaced position, means for lifting a sheet relative to said latched wicket, and means for engaging and displacing the elevated sheet from saidlifting means and from said separated Wicket.

'7. In'anfoven conveyor for transferring coated and lithographed sheets through a treating operation, the combination of a conveyor member having sheet carrying wickets, devices located in the path of travel of the wickets for engaging a said wicket and for spacing it from an adjacent wicket, latch devices for holding the separated wicket in its spaced position, means for removing the sheet from said latched and separated wicket, and means actuated by said sheet removing means for engaging and bowing said sheet during its removal from the aforesaid segregated wicket..

8. In an oven conveyor for transferring coated and lithographed sheets through a treating operation, the combination of a conveyor member having sheet carrying wickets, hook elements carried by said wickets for holding sheets in separated position during transfer, devices located in the path of travel of the wickets for engaging a said wicket and for spacing it from an adjacent wicket, latch devices for holding the separated wicket in its spaced position, means for lifting a sheet to disengage it from its hook element, and release devices slidable on said lifting means for pushing off the raised sheet from said lifting means to discharge it from said separated wicket.

9. In an oven conveyor for transferring coated and lithographed sheets through a treating operation, the combination of a conveyor member having sheet carrying wickets, hook elements carried by said wickets for holding sheets in separated position during transfer, devices located in the path of travel of the wickets for engaging each wicket and for spacing it from an adjacent wicket, means for lifting a sheet to disengage it from its hook element, bowing fingers located above said lifting means for enits. wicket.

10. In an oven conveyor for transferring coated and lithographed sheets through a treating operation, the combination of a conveyor member having sheet carrying wickets, hook elements located at. the bottom of and carried by said wickets for holding sheets in separated position during transfer, oscillatory plates located in the path of travel of the wickets and having pockets for receiving each wicket and for separating it from an adjacent wicket, lift arms located below said separated wicket for engaging the lower edge of the sheet carried by the wicket to disengage said sheet from its hook element, release fingers mounted on said liftarms and movable therewith, and means for sliding said fingers along said lift arms to push the disengaged sheet off of the arms and clear of said wicket hooks to insure dropping 01' the sheet from said wicket.

ROY E. CUMMINGS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS V- ,Number Name Date 1,468,181 Wagner et a1 Sept. 18, 1923 

